The study, titled "Expecting Better: A State-by-State Analysis of Laws That Help New Parents," examined all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Advertisement

The NPWF said the state's D- grade is "striking" because women make up 48 percent of the workforce and 70 percent of Arkansas children live in families in which all parents work.

The organization said more than 37,000 women gave birth in the state in the 2009-2010 alone.

"The birth of a child should be a joyous event for new mothers and fathers, not the cause of financial hardship or devastation,' said National Partnership President Debra L. Ness. "Sadly, as this report shows, tens of millions of working parents throughout the country have no access to paid leave when a child is born and few if any other workplace protections beyond the minimum standards set by federal law. At a time when the majority of women are both caregivers and breadwinners, America's families expect and deserve much better."

Ness said that without access to some wages or job security, families in such conditions have no choice but to sacrifice much-needed income or their jobs when a new child arrives. This causes them to risk their economic security and their health.